U.S. patent application number 14/442155 was filed with the patent office on 2016-09-08 for airbag apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to TAKATA CORPORATION. The applicant listed for this patent is Kazuhiro Abe, Masanori Fudamoto, Kazutaka Sugimoto. Invention is credited to Kazuhiro ABE, Masanori FUDAMOTO, Kazutaka SUGIMOTO.
Application Number | 20160257278 14/442155 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50730960 |
Filed Date | 2016-09-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160257278 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
FUDAMOTO; Masanori ; et
al. |
September 8, 2016 |
AIRBAG APPARATUS
Abstract
An airbag apparatus includes a cylindrical-shaped inflator that
generates gas, an airbag that is inflated by the gas generated by
the inflator, a retainer body to which the inflator is attached and
fixed and including an insertion hole into which the inflator can
be inserted, a flange member that is caulked or press-fitted to the
inflator and that constrains the inflator from moving toward one
end side in an axial direction and includes an insertion hole into
which the inflator can be inserted and a flange surface extending
outward in a radial direction, and a retaining member that
constrains the inflator from moving toward another end side in the
axial direction. The inflator is attached and fixed to the retainer
body by bolting the retainer body and the flange member.
Inventors: |
FUDAMOTO; Masanori; (Tokyo,
JP) ; SUGIMOTO; Kazutaka; (Tokyo, JP) ; ABE;
Kazuhiro; (Tokyo, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Fudamoto; Masanori
Abe; Kazuhiro
Kazutaka Sugimoto |
Tokyo
Tokyo
Tokyo |
|
JP
JP
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
TAKATA CORPORATION
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
50730960 |
Appl. No.: |
14/442155 |
Filed: |
September 27, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
September 27, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2013/076325 |
371 Date: |
May 12, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 21/264 20130101;
B60R 21/217 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60R 21/217 20060101
B60R021/217; B60R 21/264 20060101 B60R021/264 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 13, 2012 |
JP |
2012-249746 |
Claims
1. An airbag apparatus comprising: a cylindrical-shaped inflator
that generates gas; an airbag that is inflated by the gas generated
by the inflator; a retainer body to which the inflator is attached
and fixed and including an insertion hole into which the inflator
can be inserted; a flange member that is caulked or press-fitted to
the inflator and that constrains the inflator from moving toward
one end side in an axial direction and includes an insertion hole
into which the inflator can be inserted and a flange surface
extending outward in a radial direction; and a retaining member
that constrains the inflator from moving toward another end side in
the axial direction; wherein the inflator is attached and fixed to
the retainer body by bolting the retainer body and the flange
member.
2. The airbag apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
retaining member is a member that is integrated to the retainer
body.
3. The airbag apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flange
member is caulked to a side surface of the inflator.
4. The airbag apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flange
member further includes a supporting member for supporting the
inflator by contacting one end surface of the inflator in the axial
direction.
5. The airbag apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inflator
has a side surface including a side surface projecting part
projecting outward in the radial direction, wherein the flange
member is caulked or press-fitted to a side surface of the inflator
to form a step including the side surface projecting part of the
inflator on the one end side in the axial direction and constrains
the inflator from moving toward the one end side in the axial
direction.
6. The airbag apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
a bag ring that supports an opening peripheral part of the airbag;
wherein the airbag is arranged so that the opening peripheral part
of the airbag is sandwiched between the flange member and the bag
ring when the retainer body, the flange member, and the bag ring
are bolted.
7. The airbag apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the airbag
is arranged so that an opening peripheral part of the airbag is
sandwiched between the retainer body and the flange member when the
retainer body and the flange member are bolted.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an airbag apparatus, and
more particularly to an airbag apparatus including an inflator that
has an attachment/fixing flange member caulked or press-fitted
thereto.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Conventionally, there is known an airbag apparatus including
an inflator that has an attachment/fixing flange member caulked or
press-fitted thereto (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The
airbag apparatus includes a cylindrical inflator that generates
gas, an airbag that is inflated by the gas generated by the
inflator, a flange member that has a flange surface radially
extending outward from a side surface of the inflator, and a
retainer having an insertion hole that allows the inflator to be
inserted therein and serving as a base member to which the inflator
is attached and fixed. The inflator is attached and fixed to the
retainer by inserting bolts into a through-hole provided at a
peripheral part of an opening of the airbag, a through-hole
provided in the flange surface of the flange member, and a
through-hole provided in the retainer and fastening nuts to the
bolts.
RELATED ART DOCUMENT
Patent Document
[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No.
9-104314
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] However, with the airbag apparatus described in Patent
Document 1, the shape of the inflator is limited due to the
requirement of providing irregularities on the side surface of the
inflator for attaching the flange member to the side surface of the
inflator. Further, with the airbag apparatus, the flange member
supports a surface of the inflator facing one end side in an axial
direction at a seat part along with supporting another surface of
the inflator on the other end side in the axial direction by having
its edges bent on the surface of the inflator facing the other end
side in the axial direction. Therefore, an apparatus for bending
the edges of the flange member becomes complicated or attaching the
flange member to the side surface of the inflator becomes
burdensome. Thus, assembly efficiency is degraded. Further, with
the airbag apparatus, although the flange member constrains the
inflator from moving towards both ends in the axial direction, the
seat part of the flange member for supporting the surface of the
inflator facing the one end side in the axial direction is not
significantly large. Therefore, it may be insufficient for the
flange member to constrain the inflator from moving toward the one
end side in the axial direction.
[0005] In view of the above, an embodiment of the present invention
has an objective of providing an airbag apparatus that can easily
attach the flange member to the inflator without limiting the
degree of freedom of the shape of the inflator and reliably
constrain the relative movement between the inflator and the flange
member in the axial direction.
Means of Solving the Problems
[0006] In order to solve the above-described object, the present
invention provides an airbag apparatus including a
cylindrical-shaped inflator that generates gas, an airbag that is
inflated by the gas generated by the inflator, a retainer body to
which the inflator is attached and fixed and including an insertion
hole into which the inflator can be inserted, a flange member that
is caulked or press-fitted to the inflator and that constrains the
inflator from moving toward one end side in an axial direction and
includes an insertion hole into which the inflator can be inserted
and a flange surface extending outward in a radial direction, and a
retaining member that constrains the inflator from moving toward
another end side in the axial direction. The inflator is attached
and fixed to the retainer body by bolting the retainer body and the
flange member.
Effects of the Invention
[0007] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
flange member can be easily attached to the inflator without
limiting the degree of freedom of the shape of the inflator and
reliably constrain the relative movement between the inflator and
the flange member in the axial direction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an airbag apparatus
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is an upper view of an airbag apparatus according to
an embodiment of the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the airbag apparatus
taken along line A-A of FIG. 2.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the airbag apparatus
taken along line B-B of FIG. 2.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for describing a method of
caulking a flange member to an inflator of an airbag apparatus
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of an airbag apparatus according
to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an airbag apparatus of a
modified example according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an airbag apparatus of a
modified example according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0016] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an airbag apparatus of a
modified example according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0017] FIG. 10 is an exploded view of an airbag apparatus of a
modified example according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
EMBODIMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0018] Next, an airbag apparatus according to an embodiment of the
present invention is described in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an airbag apparatus 10
according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an
upper view of the airbag apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of
the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the
airbag apparatus 10 taken along line A-A of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a
cross-sectional view of the airbag apparatus 10 taken along line
B-B of FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for describing a
method of caulking a flange member to an inflator of the airbag
apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the airbag apparatus 10 according to
an embodiment of the present invention. It is to be noted that FIG.
6(A) illustrates a state before a flange member is caulked to an
inflator and FIG. 6(B) illustrates a state after the flange member
is caulked to the inflator.
[0020] In this embodiment, the airbag apparatus 10 includes an
inflator 12, an airbag 14, a retainer 16, an inflator flange 18,
and a bag ring 20. The airbag apparatus 10 is an apparatus that
inflates and spreads the airbag 14 by using gas generated by the
inflator 12. The airbag apparatus 10 serves to protect, for
example, a passenger of a vehicle by the inflating and spreading of
the airbag 14. It is to be noted that the side of the airbag
apparatus 10 in which the airbag 14 inflates and spreads is
referred to as "spreading side" and the side that is opposite of
the spreading side is referred to as "non-spreading side".
[0021] The inflator 12 is a member that generates high pressure
gas. The inflator 12 has a cylindrical shape. Multiple gas ejection
holes 22 are provided on a side surface of the inflator 12. The gas
ejection holes 22 are formed on the side surface of the inflator 12
at predetermined angles on the spreading side. The inflator 12
releases generated gas from the gas ejection holes 22. A connector
26 for connecting to an external device (not illustrated) via a
wiring 24 is attached to an end surface of the inflator 12 on the
non-spreading side in the axial direction. The inflator 12
generates gas for inflating and spreading the airbag 14 in
accordance with an ejection instruction signal transmitted from the
external device via the wiring 24 and the connector 26.
[0022] The airbag 14 is a bag-like member having an opening 30
provided at a portion thereof. The airbag 14 inflates and spreads
by supplying gas generated by the inflator 12 from the opening 30
and fills the airbag 14 with the gas. Through-holes 32 are provided
at a periphery of the opening 30 of the airbag 14. The airbag 14
includes multiple through-holes 32 (for example, four) are arranged
about the opening 30 at intervals of a predetermined angle (for
example, 90.degree.) at the periphery of the opening 30. Each
through-hole 32 has a substantially circular shape.
[0023] The retainer 16 is a member to which the inflator 12 is
attached and fixed. The retainer 16 is a metal or resin plate
member having a predetermined thickness in the axial direction. An
insertion hole 34 having a circular shape is provided substantially
at the center of the retainer 16 to allow the inflator 12 to be
inserted therein. The insertion hole 34 is formed to have a
diameter that is slightly greater than the outer diameter of the
inflator 12. Through-holes 36 penetrating the retainer 16 in the
axial direction are provided at the periphery of the insertion hole
34. The retainer 16 has multiple through-holes 36 (for example,
four) are arranged about the insertion hole 34 at intervals of a
predetermined angle (for example, 90.degree.) at the periphery of
the insertion hole 34. Each through-hole 36 has a substantially
circular shape. The through-hole 36 is formed to have a size that
is substantially the same as the size of the through-hole 32 of the
airbag 14.
[0024] The retainer 16 is formed to have a circular hat-like shape
allowing the inflator 12 to be accommodated on the non-spreading
side in the axial direction, so that the retainer 16 can support
the inflator 12 on the non-spreading side to constrain the inflator
12 from moving toward the non-spreading side. More specifically,
the retainer 16 includes a circular ring-shaped flange part 40
extending outward in the radial direction at the periphery of the
insertion hole 34, a cylindrical-shaped cylinder part 42 extending
in the axial direction from an inner end of the flange part 40
(more specifically, on the non-spreading side in the axial
direction), and a bottom part 44 formed to close the opening of the
cylindrical part 42 in the axial direction on the non-spreading
side).
[0025] An opening hole 46 is provided in the axial direction at
substantially the center of the bottom part 44. The opening hole 46
is a wiring extracting port for extracting the connector 26
attached to the end surface of the inflator 12 on the non-spreading
side in the axial direction and the wiring 24 connected to the
connector 26. The opening hole 46 is formed to have a diameter
smaller than the outer diameter of the inflator 12. Therefore, when
the inflator 12 is accommodated in the retainer 16, the bottom part
44 supports the inflator 12 on the non-spreading side in the axial
direction, so that the inflator 12 is constrained from moving
toward the non-spreading side.
[0026] The inflator flange 18 includes a flange surface that
extends outward in a radial direction from the side of the side
surface of the inflator 12. The inflator flange 18 is an attachment
piece for attaching the inflator 12 to the retainer 16. That is,
when the inflator 12 is assembled to the inflator flange 18, the
inflator 12 becomes a flange-attached inflator having a. flange
surface extending outward in the radial direction from its side
surface. Thereby, the inflator 12 is attached to the retainer 16 by
way of the inflator flange 18.
[0027] The inflator flange 18 includes a circular-shaped insertion
hole 48 provided substantially at a center of the flange surface
having a substantially quadrangular shape for allowing the inflator
12 to be inserted therein. The insertion hole 48 is formed to have
a diameter larger than an outer diameter of the inflator 12. The
inflator flange 18 is formed to have a hat-like shape to
accommodate the spreading side of the inflator 12 in the axial
direction. More specifically, the inflator flange 18 includes a
cylindrically-shaped cylinder part 50 extending in the axial
direction to cover the side surface of the inflator, a flange part
52 extending outward in the radial direction on the non-spreading
side of the cylinder part 50 in the axial direction, and a bottom
part 54 formed to close an opening of the cylinder part 50 on the
spreading side in the axial direction.
[0028] An opening hole 56 that is open in the axial direction is
provided substantially at the center of the bottom part 54. The
opening hole 56 is formed to have a diameter smaller than the outer
diameter of the inflator 12. Therefore, when the inflator 12 is
accommodated in the inflator flange 18, the bottom part 54 supports
the non-spreading side of the inflator 12 in the axial direction,
so that the inflator 12 is constrained from moving toward the
non-spreading side.
[0029] Through-holes 58 penetrating the inflator flange 18 in the
axial direction are provided at the periphery of the insertion hole
48 (i.e., flange surface of the flange part 52). The inflator
flange 18 has multiple through-holes 58 (for example, four) which
are arranged about the insertion hole 48 at intervals of a
predetermined angle (for example, 90.degree.) at the periphery of
the insertion hole 48. Each through-hole 58 has a substantially
circular shape. The through-hole 58 is formed to have a size that
is substantially the same as the size of the through-hole 32 of the
airbag 14 or the through-hole 36 of the retainer 16.
[0030] Multiple gas discharge holes 60 are provided in the side
surface of the inflator flange 18 (more specifically, the side
surface of the cylinder part 50). The gas discharge holes 60 are
arranged at intervals of a predetermined angle on the side surface
of the inflator flange 18. The gas generated in the inflator 12 and
released from the gas ejection hole 22 flows into the airbag 14 by
way of the gas discharge holes 60 of the inflator flange 18.
[0031] Further, caulking pieces 62 for caulking the inflator flange
18 to the side surface of the inflator 12 are provided on the side
surface of the inflator flange 18 (more specifically, the side
surface of the cylinder part 50). The inflator flange 18 has
multiple caulking pieces 62 (for example, four) which are arranged
at intervals of a predetermined angle (for example, 90.degree.) on
the side surface of the inflator flange 18. Each caulking piece 62
is a plate-like member obtained by cutting the side surface of the
inflator flange 18 into a C-shape. As illustrated in FIG. 5, each
caulking piece 62 is caulked to the inflator 12 by exerting
pressure in a center axis direction (inward in a radial direction)
throughout the entire periphery by using a caulking device 64, so
that the inflator flange 18 is caulked and fixed to the side
surface of the inflator 12.
[0032] Further, the bag ring 20 is a metal or a resin member for
attaching a peripheral part of the opening 30 of the airbag 14 to
an end surface of the retainer 16 on the spreading side in the
axial direction. The bag ring 20 having a substantially
quadrangular plate-like shape includes a circular-shaped insertion
hole 70 for allowing the inflator 12 to be inserted therein and a
flange part 72 extending outward in a radial direction from the
periphery of the insertion hole 70. The insertion hole 70 is formed
to have a diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the
inflator 12 and larger than the inner diameter of the opening 30 of
the airbag 14.
[0033] Bolts 74 extending in the axial direction are integrally
formed with the flange part 72 of the bag ring 20. Multiple bolts
74 (for example, four) are arranged at the corner parts on the end
surface of the flange part 72 of the bag ring 20 on the
non-spreading side in the axial direction. It is to be noted that
the bolts 74 may be provided to be separate from the bag ring 20.
In this case, through-holes for inserting the bolts 74 are formed
in the flange part 72 of the bag ring 20. The bolt 74 is formed to
have an outer diameter that is slightly smaller than the diameter
of the through-hole 32 of the airbag 14, the diameter of the
through-hole 58 of the flange part 52 of the inflator flange 18,
and the diameter of the through-hole 36 of the retainer 16. The
bolt 74 of the bag ring 20 is inserted into the through-hole 32 of
the airbag 14, the through-hole 58 of the flange part 52 of the
inflator flange 18, and the through-hole 36 of the retainer 16 and
is fastened to the nut 76. Thereby, the bag ring 20, the airbag 14,
the inflator flange 18, and the retainer 16 are assembled together
and attached/fixed to each other.
[0034] The airbag apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the
present invention has a configuration in which the inflator flange
18 including the above-described structure is caulked and fixed to
the side surface of the inflator 12, and the inflator flange 18
that is caulked to the inflator 12 is fastened to the airbag 14,
the retainer 16, and the bag ring 20 by way of the bolts 74 and the
nuts 76.
[0035] More specifically, in manufacturing the airbag apparatus 10,
the retainer 16, the inflator 12, the inflator flange 18, the
airbag 14, and the bag ring 20 are prepared (FIG. 6(A)). Then,
after inserting the inflator 12 on the spreading side in the axial
direction into the insertion hole 48 of the inflator flange 18,
each caulking piece 62 of the inflator flange 18 is caulked to the
side surface of the inflator 12 by using the caulking apparatus 64.
Thereby, the inflator flange 18 is caulked and fixed to the side
surface of the inflator 12 (FIG. 6(B)).
[0036] By performing the caulking and fixing, the relative axial
rotation between the inflator 12 and the inflator flange 18 is
constrained. As described above, the inflator 12 is formed in a
cylindrical shape, and the flange surface of the inflator flange 18
is formed in a substantially quadrangular plate-like shape.
Therefore, by caulking and fixing the inflator 12 and the inflator
flange 18 to each other at an appropriate position in the axial
direction, the angular orientation of the inflator 12 can be
identified to some degree by the appearance of the inflator 12
having the inflator flange 18 attached thereto. In addition, the
handling and carrying of the inflator 12 having the inflator flange
18 attached thereto can be simplified.
[0037] After the inflator flange 18 is caulked and fixed to the
side surface of the inflator 12 as described above, the
non-spreading side of the inflator 12 in the axial direction having
the inflator flange 18 caulked and fixed thereto is inserted into
the insertion hole 34 of the retainer 16. Further, the spreading
side of the inflator 12 in the axial direction is inserted into the
opening 30 of the airbag 14 and the insertion hole 70 of the bag
ring 20 in this order. Further, the bolts 74 of the bag ring 20 are
inserted into the through-holes 32 of the airbag 14, the
through-holes 58 of the flange part 52 of the inflator flange 18,
and the through-holes 36 of the retainer 16. Then, the bolts 74 of
the bag ring 20 inserted into each of the through-holes 32, 58, 36
are fastened by the nuts 76.
[0038] By the fastening with the bolts, the inflator flange 18
being caulked and fixed to the inflator 12, the airbag 14, the
retainer 16, and the bag ring 20 are attached and fixed to each
other. That is, the inflator 12 is attached and fixed to the
retainer 16 by bolting the retainer 16 and the inflator flange 18
being caulked to the inflator 12. In this case, the peripheral part
of the opening 30 of the airbag 14 is sandwiched between the flange
part 52 of the inflator flange 18 and the flange part 72 of the bag
ring 20.
[0039] The inflator 12 is formed to have an outer diameter that is
smaller than the diameter of the insertion hole 34 of the retainer
16 and the diameter of the insertion hole 48 of the inflator flange
18 but larger than the diameter of the opening hole 46 of the
bottom part 44 of the retainer 16 and the diameter of the opening
hole 56 of the bottom part 54 of the inflator flange 18. Therefore,
when the inflator flange 18, the airbag 14, the retainer 16, and
the bag ring 20 are attached and fixed to each other, the inflator
12 is supported at its end surface on the non-spreading side in the
axial direction by the bottom part 44 of the retainer 16 and
supported at its end surface on the spreading side in the axial
direction by the bottom part 54 of the inflator flange 18. Thus,
after the assembly of the airbag apparatus 10, the inflator 12 is
reliably constrained from moving toward the non-spreading side in
the axial direction by the retainer 16 and reliably constrained
from moving toward the spreading side in the axial direction by the
inflator flange 18 even after the airbag 14 is spread.
[0040] In the structure of the airbag apparatus 10 according to an
embodiment of the present invention, the inflator flange 18 is
attached to the inflator 12, so that the inflator 12 can be
attached and fixed to the retainer 16. This attachment of the
inflator flange 18 to the inflator 12 is achieved by caulking the
caulking pieces 62 of the inflator flange 18 to the side surface of
the inflator 12. Therefore, in attaching the inflator flange 18 to
the inflator 12, there is no need to provide any irregularities or
steps on the side surface of the inflator 12. Thus, the degree of
freedom of the shape of the inflator 12 can be prevented from being
limited.
[0041] Further, according to the embodiment of the present
invention, because the inflator flange 18 is attached to the
inflator 12 by caulking, the side surface of the inflator 12 need
not be formed with a significantly large thickness compared to a
structure in which a flange is attached to the inflator 12 by
welding. Therefore, weight reduction and simplification of assembly
of the entire airbag apparatus 10 can be achieved. Further, the
inflator flange 18 can be sufficiently caulked to the inflator 12
by exerting pressure on the caulking piece 62 of the inflator
flange 18 in a center axis direction (inward in a radial direction)
throughout the entire periphery by using the caulking device 64.
Because complication of devices and burden of attachment can be
alleviated when attaching the inflator flange 18 to the inflator
12, the assembly efficiency of the airbag apparatus 10 can be
prevented from degrading.
[0042] Therefore, with the airbag apparatus 10 according to an
embodiment of the present invention, the inflator flange 18 can be
easily attached to the inflator 12 without limiting the degree of
freedom of the shape of the inflator 12, and the relative movement
between the inflator 12 and the inflator flange 18 in the axial
direction can be reliably constrained.
[0043] In the above-described embodiments, the retainer 16
corresponds to "retainer body" and "retaining member" described in
the claims, the flange part 40 of the retainer 16 corresponds to
the "retainer body" described in the claims, the bottom part 44 of
the retainer 16 corresponds to the "retaining member" described in
the claims, the inflator flange 18 corresponds to the "flange
member" described in the claims, the spreading side in the axial
direction corresponds to the "one end side in the axial direction"
described in the claims, the non-spreading side corresponds to the
"other end side in the axial direction" described in the claims,
and the bottom part 54 of the inflator flange 18 corresponds to the
"support part" described in the claims.
[0044] Incidentally, in the above-described embodiment, the
inflator 12 is formed to have an outer diameter that is smaller
than the diameter of the insertion hole 48 of the inflator flange
18. Further, the caulking piece 62 for caulking and fixing to the
side surface of the inflator 12 is provided on the side surface of
the cylinder part 50 of the inflator flange 18, so that the
caulking piece 62 can be caulked to the side surface of the
inflator 12 by using the caulking apparatus 64. Thereby, the
inflator flange 18 and the inflator 12 are caulked and fixed to
each other.
[0045] The present invention is, however, not limited to such
embodiment. While forming the insertion hole 48 of the inflator
flange 18 with a diameter greater than the outer diameter of the
inflator 12, a recess part being recessed toward the center side in
the axial direction may be provided on the side surface of the
inflator flange 18 in which an inner diameter of the recess part is
formed to be substantially equal to or slightly smaller than the
outer diameter of the inflator 12, so that the inflator flange 18
and the inflator 12 may be press-fitted and fixed to each other by
press-fitting the inflator flange 18 to the side surface of the
inflator 12. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the inflator 12 may
be formed to have an outer diameter that is substantially equal to
the diameter of the insertion hole 48 of the inflator flange 18, so
that the inflator flange 18 and the inflator 12 may be press-fitted
and fixed to each other by pressing fitting the inflator flange 18
to the side surface of the inflator 12. With the structure in which
the inflator flange 18 is press-fitted to the side surface of the
inflator 12, a portion 100 in the vicinity of the opening hole 56
of the bottom part 54 of the inflator flange 18 may be caulked to
an end surface of the inflator 12 on the spreading side in the
axial direction as illustrated in FIG. 7.
[0046] Further, in the above-described embodiment, the caulking
piece 62 of the side surface of the inflator flange 18 is caulked
to the side surface of the inflator 12 without providing any
irregular steps on the side surface of the inflator 12, and the end
surface of the inflator 12 on the spreading side in the axial
direction is supported by the bottom part 54 of the inflator flange
18 by contacting the bottom part 54 of the inflator flange 18. The
present invention is, however, not limited to such embodiment. As
illustrated in FIG. 8, a projecting part 110 projecting outward in
the radial direction may be provided on the side surface of the
inflator 12, in which the inflator 12 is formed to have an outer
diameter that is substantially equal to the diameter of the
insertion hole 48 of the inflator flange 18 at the peak of the
projecting part 110. In addition, the inflator flange 18 may be
constituted only by the cylindrical part 50 and the flange part 52,
and a portion of the cylindrical part 50 corresponding to the
projecting part 110 of the inflator 12 on the spreading side in the
axial direction may be caulked to the projecting part 110 of the
inflator 12 by exerting pressure in a center axis direction
throughout the entire periphery. Thereby, a step 112 corresponding
to the projecting part 110 of the inflator 12 is formed on the side
surface of the inflator flange 18.
[0047] With such modified example, the inflator flange 18 is
caulked and fixed to the inflator 12 on the spreading side of the
projecting part 110 in the axial direction and the inflator flange
18 contacts the inflator 12 on the spreading side of the projecting
part 110 in the axial direction, so that the inflator 12 can be
supported and constrained from moving toward the spreading side in
the axial direction. With the structure of the modified example,
the inflator flange 18 and the inflator 12 may be press-fitted and
fixed to each other instead of being caulked and fixed to each
other.
[0048] In the above-described modified examples, the projecting
part 110 of the inflator 12 corresponds to the "side surface
projecting part" described in the claims, and the step 112 of the
inflator flange 18 corresponds to the "step" described in the
claims. Further, the length of the cylindrical part 50 of the
inflator flange 18 in the axial direction may be comparatively long
as illustrated in FIG. 8 or may be comparatively short. Further,
the length of the cylindrical part 50 in the axial direction may be
extending from the inner end of the flange part 52 to the extent
that the gas ejection holes 22 of the inflator 12 do not become
covered. In this case, the cylindrical part 50 may be formed
without the gas discharge hole 60. Further, the step 110 provided
in the side surface of the inflator 12 may have a width in the
axial direction that is comparatively short as illustrated in FIG.
8 or comparatively long.
[0049] Further, in the above-described embodiment, the inflator 12
is formed having a cylindrical shape, and the gas ejection holes 22
are formed in the side surface of the cylindrical shape of the
inflator 12. However, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the inflator 12 may
be formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and have a
projecting part 12 projecting toward the spreading side in the
axial direction from an upper surface of the inflator 12 on the
spreading side in the axial direction, so that the gas ejection
holes 22 are provided on the side or upper surface of the
projecting part 12 (side surface in FIG. 9). In this modified
example, the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the inflator 12
and the diameter of the insertion hole 48 of the inflator flange 18
are substantially equal. In addition, the inflator flange 18 may be
constituted only by the cylindrical part 50 and the flange part 52,
and an end portion of the cylindrical part 50 on the spreading side
in the axial direction may be caulked to the vicinity of a corner
part of the inflator 12 by exerting pressure in a center axis
direction throughout the entire periphery. Further, the inflator
flange 18 may be press-fitted to the side surface of the inflator
12. The corner part of the inflator 12 at an end portion of the
inflator 12 on the spreading side in the axial direction may be
formed so that the side surface of the inflator 12 and the bottom
surface of the inflator 12 are orthogonal to each other.
Alternatively, the corner part of the inflator 12 may be formed so
that the side surface of the inflator 12 and the bottom surface of
the inflator 12 are obliquely connected to each other as
illustrated in FIG. 9.
[0050] Further, in the above-described embodiment, the airbag
apparatus 10 includes the inflator 12, the airbag 14, the retainer
16, the inflator flange 18, and the bag ring 20, in which the
inflator flange 18 and the bag ring 20 that are independently
provided are bolted to each other. However, the present invention
is not limited to such embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 10, an
airbag apparatus 130 may include a flange member 132 having the
inflator flange 18 and the bag ring 20 integrated to each
other.
[0051] In this modified example, although the flange member 132
includes the inflator flange 18 having substantially the same shape
as that of the above-described embodiment, bolts 134 extending in
the axial direction are formed in the periphery of the insertion
hole 48 of the flange member 132 (i.e., flange surface of the
flange part 52) instead having the through-holes 58 that penetrate
the inflator flange 18 in the axial direction.
[0052] In manufacturing the airbag apparatus 130 of this modified
example, the retainer 16, the inflator 12, the airbag 14, and the
flange member 132 are prepared (FIG. 10). Then, after inserting the
spreading side of the inflator 12 in the axial direction into the
insertion hole 48 of the flange member 132, each caulking piece 62
of the flange member 132 is caulked to the side surface of the
inflator 12 by using the caulking apparatus 64. Thereby, the flange
member 132 is caulked and fixed to the side surface of the inflator
12. In this example, the relative axial rotation between the
inflator 12 and the flange member 132 is constrained. Then, the
spreading side of the inflator 12 in the axial direction having the
flange member 132 caulked and fixed thereto is inserted into the
opening 30 of the airbag 14, and the bolts 134 of the flange member
132 are inserted through the through-holes 32 of the airbag 14.
Further, the spreading side of the inflator 12 in the axial
direction is inserted into the insertion hole 34 of the retainer
16, and the bolts 134 of the flange member 132 are inserted through
the through-holes 36 of the retainer 16. Then, the bolts 134 of the
flange member 132 inserted into each of the through-holes 32, 36
are fastened by the nuts 136.
[0053] By the fastening with the bolts, the flange member 132 being
caulked and fixed to the inflator 12, the airbag 14, and the
retainer 16 are attached and fixed to each other. That is, the
inflator 12 is attached and fixed to the retainer 16 by bolting the
retainer 16 and the flange member 132 being caulked to the inflator
12. In this case, the peripheral part of the opening 30 of the
airbag 14 is sandwiched between the flange part 40 of the retainer
16 and the flange part 132 of the flange member 132.
[0054] In the structure of this modified example, the inflator 12
has its end surface on the non-spreading side in the axial
direction supported by the bottom part 44 of the retainer 16 and
its end surface on the spreading side in the axial direction
supported by the bottom part 54 of the flange member 132.
Therefore, after the assembly of the airbag apparatus 130, the
inflator 12 is reliably constrained from moving toward the
non-spreading side in the axial direction by the retainer 16 and
reliably constrained from moving toward the spreading side in the
axial direction by the flange member 132 even after the airbag 14
is spread. Thus, the similar to the airbag apparatus 10 of the
above-described embodiment, the airbag apparatus 130 of this
modified example can allow the flange member 132 to be easily
attached to the inflator 12 without limiting the degree of freedom
of the shape of the inflator 12, and the relative movement between
the inflator 12 and the flange member 132 in the axial direction
can be reliably constrained. Further, with the airbag apparatus 130
of this modified example, the number of components can be reduced
compared to the airbag apparatus 10 of the above-described
embodiment owing to the flange member 132 that has the inflator
flange 18 and the bag ring 20 of the above-described embodiment
being integrally formed. Thereby, improvement of assembly
efficiency, simplification of assembly, and cost reduction can be
achieved.
[0055] Further, in the above-described embodiment, the retainer 16
has a function of supporting the inflator 12 on the non-spreading
side in the axial direction by forming the retainer 16 with a
hat-like shape to support the inflator 12 on the non-spreading side
in the axial side. Alternatively, the retainer 16 may be formed
with a flat shape along with providing a separate supporting member
for supporting the inflator 12 on the non-spreading side in the
axial direction. In this case, the supporting member may be bolted
to, for example, the retainer 16 and the inflator flange 18.
[0056] The present application is based on and claims the benefit
of priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-249746 filed on
Nov. 13, 2012, with the Japanese Patent Office, the entire contents
of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0057] 10, 130 airbag apparatus [0058] 12 inflator [0059] 14
retainer [0060] 16 airbag [0061] 20 bag ring [0062] 34 insertion
hole of retainer [0063] 44 bottom part of retainer [0064] 48
insertion hole of inflator flange [0065] 54 bottom part of inflator
flange [0066] 62 caulking piece [0067] 64 caulking apparatus [0068]
74, 134 bolt [0069] 76, 136 nut [0070] 110 projecting part [0071]
112 step [0072] 132 flange member
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